Sky Capture WISLW Title, Advance to National Championship in Las Vegas

The Snohomish Sky women’s semi-pro indoor soccer team is headed to Las Vegas to compete for a national championship after winning the Western Indoor Soccer League (WISL) title Feb. 21.

The Sky secured the championship with an 8-5 victory over the Tacoma Galaxy.

“It was a great battle and an incredible atmosphere for both longtime Sky fans and new fans,” head coach Craig Otto said. “We had a few mistakes that led to goals we don’t usually concede, but our team was confident and our belief never changed. At the end of the third quarter, Coach Fakkema told the team to take a deep breath and play how we know we can play. As soon as we came back out, we turned it on and played our game, scoring three goals and not conceding any.”

Snohomish pulled away in the second half of a high-scoring, back-and-forth match. Tacoma opened the scoring early on a power play, but Snohomish responded quickly with two goals to take a 2-1 lead after the first period. Tacoma regained control in the second, scoring twice to go up 3-2, then extended the lead to 4-2 midway through the third.

The Sky answered with a surge, tying the game at 4-4 and again at 5-5 late in the third period. In the fourth, Snohomish dominated with three unanswered goals, including two from Anna Roslander and a late goal against a six-attacker setup to seal the 8-5 win.

General manager Jamie French-Bialek said the championship run reflects the team’s balance of talent and commitment.

“Every season is special because of the group of players we get to coach,” French-Bialek said. “Each year is a new start, but the goal is always the same — to finish at the top and compete for a championship. With a trip to nationals in Las Vegas on the line this year, that added extra motivation for everyone. We were able to bring in some new players this season, and combined with our core group, it made us stronger. These women have a lot to balance off the field, like college, jobs and family, and the coaches and staff appreciate the time they give.”

The Sky will compete March 26-29 at the national tournament in Las Vegas against top women’s semi-pro indoor teams from across the country.

“Vegas will be an exciting atmosphere, and we know the tournament organizers are working hard to create a true championship weekend,” French-Bialek said. “Like our previous nationals trips, we’ll be facing teams from different states that we’ve never seen before, and each league plays with slightly different rules, so our ability to adapt will be key. This core group has already proven they can battle on that stage with two runner-up finishes.

“Now we’re entering the unknown again — new opponents, a field we’ve never played on and a much bigger arena. But like every team, the goal is the same: come home as champions. We will also be streaming the games on the Snohomish Sky YouTube channel, so we’re excited for our friends and families to be able to watch.”

For more information, visit snohomishsky.com.